In a meeting with his Government on 28 January 2025, Kazakhstan’s President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev emphasised the critical need for the country to achieve full self-sufficiency in electricity and establish reserves of 15-20%. To meet this goal, the government plans to introduce at least 3 gigawatts of new power capacity over the next two years, a target nearly 2.5 times higher than previous years.
President Tokayev reaffirmed the country’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality, stressing the importance of a rational approach that leverages Kazakhstan’s natural resources and inherent advantages. Innovative coal-fired power stations are set to replace outdated thermal power plants (TPPs), following the successful examples of next-generation coal-fired power stations with minimal emissions in China and South Korea. The President noted the missed opportunity of the unbuilt coal-fired power plant in Balkhash, which would have been a valuable energy source today.
Amid growing energy shortages, President Tokayev called for the acceleration of the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant and the establishment of a nuclear cluster. He tasked the government and “Samruk-Kazyna” with developing long-term plans for the nuclear industry, including identifying suitable locations for future nuclear power plants and adopting modern, safe technologies.
President Tokayev expects proposals from the government and Parliament regarding the site for the second nuclear power plant, reiterating the necessity of nuclear energy for Kazakhstan’s continued development. He emphasized that energy is the driving force of the entire economy, and only by ensuring energy supply to all regions can the country achieve prosperity and improve the quality of life for its citizens.
